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IBP 188
Epilogue 5
Once again, at the House of Duke Ardos.
Because Coco had been skipping meals, a state of crisis—akin to the brink of war—had broken out here.
Chloe, who had been commuting to and from the Grand Duchy via teleportation magic stones, had returned to the Duke's residence entirely.
And then, she called a family meeting.
“I heard something is going on with Coco.”
“She won’t eat her sweet potatoes.”
“...Sweet potatoes?”
Chloe’s eyes narrowed instantly. Ruth nodded and added, “Not eating sweet potatoes is a total emergency!”
At Ruth's words, Chloe pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Right, it is.”
“Hmm, but there's something strange. She seems to have become like this after returning from meeting Caligo. Looking at it that way, it seems related to Caligo.”
“Related to Caligo, huh.”
“Yeah. Everyone in the family except me has either gotten engaged or married, right? So I have absolutely no clue how this works.”
Indeed, despite the passing years, Ruth remained a lifelong novice in romance.
Duke Ardos wore an expression as if his insides were rotting because of Ruth, then pinched the bridge of his nose. He let out a deep sigh and asked, “Are you not going to get married, Ruth?”
“I’m not marrying. I have no interest.”
“....”
“I have to stay stuck to our Coco like glue for the rest of my life; why would I marry? It’s a hassle.”
“....”
“I’m staying single for life.”
“...Fine, do whatever you want.”
“Anyway, that’s not the important part. I’m talking about our Coco.”
Ruth’s eyes sparkled with intelligence.
It was a stark contrast to the dead-fish eyes she had when reviewing the semi-annual financial statements of the family business.
“Our Coco has been tossing and turning in distress since she met Caligo.”
“Did Caligo do something to Coco?”
“If he did, I can’t just let it slide.”
As Chloe spoke with a troubled face, Ruth stroked her chin and muttered.
“But think about it rationally. Why would Caligo? I don’t think that’s it...”
Ruth continued to mutter while stroking her chin.
“Did she fall for him all over again after seeing him for the first time in a while?”
And then there was the being leisurely grazing on grass outside the dining room. To be precise, Thunder—who had become a semi-spirit beast while patrolling the area alongside the puppy patrol squad by Coco's side—thought:
‘Wha-what? Did Ruth’s intelligence increase?’
...At this moment, the fact that Ruth had become more perceptive was more surprising than Coco’s love life.
Meanwhile, Duke Ardos and Chloe seemed to think Ruth’s words made sense.
Chloe quickly suggested, “I should go ask Coco. I’ll tell her I’m worried that my baby is sick and ask what’s wrong.”
Chloe didn’t wait for the family’s permission or answer.
But just as she was about to stand up, someone knocked on the dining room door.
Wondering if it was Coco, everyone’s gaze focused on the door, and Duke Ardos lightly announced, “Come in.”
However, the person who opened the door and entered was unexpectedly the gate knight of the House of Ardos.
“Your Grace, Duke Ardos. Grand Prince Caligo Rivera has arrived.”
The gazes of the three members of the Ardos family met in the middle simultaneously.
Duke Ardos cleared his throat and muttered, “Oh, speak of the devil. I suppose it’s because he’s the imprinted one of a tiger spirit beast...”
Just as everyone’s expression stiffened at the lame joke, the gate knight burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
“Hahaha! You are truly witty!”
“Right? Ahem, let him in.”
While the Duke looked strangely proud, Chloe waved her hand and said, “For now, you two should meet Grand Prince Caligo in the dining room first.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to see Coco first.”
* * *
I was lying on the bed, staring into the air.
‘My palms feel like they’re on fire.’
I kept thinking about the sensation of Caligo’s rough palms. That feeling remained vivid in a corner of my heart, constantly tormenting me.
“Huuu....”
There was another problem.
I stared at the ceiling and then squeezed my eyes shut.
“Why... why are you here...!”
...Now, I was even seeing hallucinations of Caligo on the ceiling. A face that looked at me and smiled brightly.
Just as I was letting out a deep sigh of frustration, the door opened without warning.
“I told you not to come i—”
...I muttered it thinking it was one of the maids, but the person who opened the door and entered was unexpectedly my sister.
“Am I not allowed to come in?”
“No! You’re always welcome!”
I threw off the covers and jumped up, but my sister sat down on the edge of the bed first.
“You have something on your mind, don’t you, our Coco? You’re even skipping meals.”
“Um...”
I thought deeply.
I couldn’t exactly identify the nature of my feelings right now. That’s why I didn’t know what to say.
And my sister seemed quite disappointed by that.
“Sissy... I thought you’d throw yourself into my arms and tell me everything, but my baby already has secrets.”
I was already seventeen, but I suppose I still looked like a child in front of her.
My sister was staring at me.
And when I looked into her eyes, I found it impossible to keep a secret.
“I met Caligo after a long time, and my heart just started racing.”
“...It did?”
“Yes, I lost my appetite, my mouth went dry, and my heart didn’t just go pit-a-pat, it felt like it was thumping—thump-thump!”
“....”
“Every time I see Caligo, I feel strange, and I can’t even look him in the eye. Sister, do you think I might not be able to see Caligo anymore?”
...Thinking that made me feel incredibly depressed. My emotions swinging like this was something that had never happened in my dog life—no, human life. While I was feeling even more gloomy, my sister let out a short sigh.
“How has my baby grown up so much?”
“Huh?”
“Ah, I really, really don’t want to tell you this, but...”
“Why?”
“Our Coco, I think you’ve fallen in love. With Caligo.”
“Yeah, yeah, I love Caligo! My heart goes pit-a-pat.”
“...Not that. Romantically. I think it was love at first sight.”
My face, which had been red as an apple, eventually became redder than a ruby.
“Nooo...”
“What do you mean, no.”
I touched my flushed face with my hands and barely managed to change the subject.
“Then, did you feel that way too? Toward Grand Duke Rivera—no, toward my brother-in-law?”
“...Hmm, maybe I did.”
My sister brushed my hair back and steered the conversation back to Caligo.
“Coco, that’s not the important part. Do you know Caligo is at our house right now?”
“Huh?”
My face instantly heated up like a roasting sweet potato. Seeing this, my sister chuckled knowingly and stroked my hair.
“Your debutante ball is coming up soon, right?”
“Right...”
“I think Caligo came to request to be your partner for the ball.”
“...I don’t think I can meet him right now.”
Because I’m too embarrassed...
“Even if you don’t meet him now, Caligo will probably come back. He’ll have to ask Coco to be his debutante partner.”
“Gasp.”
My face turned bright red as I hadn't thought that far.
“I’ll deal with Caligo on your behalf today.”
“Uuu...”
“But you should think carefully, Coco. How you’ll answer when Caligo comes back.”
“....”
“Whether you’ll bravely and confidently tell Caligo you like him, or if you’ll avoid the situation.”
Facing him confidently was embarrassing, and avoiding it was easier.
‘But...’
My thoughts became as tangled as a ball of yarn.
After throwing this dilemma at me, my sister pulled a sweet potato bread out of her pocket.
“Say ah.”
“Um...”
“Coco, ah.”
As I munched on a bite, my sister pulled a carton of milk from her pocket.
“A sip of milk, too.”
“Heh... waaaah.”
Munching on the bread and milk my sister fed me, I thought:
‘Sister still thinks I’m a puppy baby.’
...But then again, it was true that I always became a fussy puppy baby in front of her.
After diligently feeding me, my sister patted me for a long while.
Then, saying, “I guess I have to go meet another fool,” she swept away.
I lay back down and covered myself with the blanket.
I thought that since my sister had given me a consultation, my racing heart would calm down a bit.
However, I bolted upright again.
“Again!”
Again, again, I can see Caligo’s face on the ceiling!
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